Local baristas to raise concerns about alleged ongoing Fair Work Week law violations
Workers, officials, community allies to call on Starbucks to stop violating local, federal laws and invest in the workers fueling its profits
Local union baristas will be joined by Mayor Daniel Biss, councilmembers, faith leaders, and community allies at a press conference on Tuesday, May 26 at 5pm CT, where they’ll raise alarms about Starbucks’ alleged violations of the city’s Fair Work Week laws and failure to finalize a fair union contract. They’ll call on Starbucks to comply with the city’s scheduling protections, remedy alleged past violations, and invest in baristas – the key to the company’s success.
From Evanston to Chicago and beyond, union baristas have been fighting to hold Starbucks accountable to finalizing a fair contract that would guarantee the hours, staffing, pay, and protections baristas need to succeed. Just last week, Starbucks Workers United surpassed 700 union election victories nationwide after workers at stores in Chicago and Bolingbrook voted to unionize, marking the 42nd and 43rd unionized stores in Illinois as union baristas continue to build real power and take on one of the most recognizable corporations in the world.
In the months since New York City won a $38 million settlement with Starbucks—the largest worker protection settlement in the city’s history––for widespread violations of its Fair Work Week Law, Evanston baristas have been organizing with coworkers and documenting alleged Fair Work Week violations, which they’ve brought forth to city leaders seeking meaningful enforcement and accountability under the local laws. Starbucks continues to be the biggest violator of federal labor law in modern history, with more than 1,000 unfair labor practice charges filed and hundreds still unresolved — including cases directly impacting Illinois baristas.
***EVENT DETAILS***
WHAT: Evanston union baristas, elected officials, clergy members, and community allies to hold a press conference calling on Starbucks to comply with Fair Work Week protections, respect workers’ rights, and finalize a fair first contract with union baristas
WHO:
- Mayor Daniel Biss
- Evanston union baristas
- Clergy members, allies, and community supporters
WHEN: Tuesday, May 26 at 5pm CT
WHERE: 909 Davis St, Evanston, IL 60201
Evanston workers are part of a growing movement of union baristas across 45 states and the District of Columbia who are demanding Starbucks value and invest in the baristas who make the Starbucks experience. The first step is for Starbucks to settle a fair contract and stop their record-breaking union busting activity. While baristas and the company have notched 30+ tentative agreements on important issues, they’re demanding Starbucks finalize a fair contract that addresses:
- Better hours to improve staffing: Baristas report chronic understaffing while struggling to get enough hours to qualify for benefits or pay their bills
- Higher take-home pay: With starting wages at $16/hr or less in 43 states and average schedules of just 19 hours per week, which is just below the threshold to qualify for benefits, many baristas rely on SNAP and Medicaid
- Resolution of hundreds of unfair labor practices: Starbucks has been found guilty of more than 400 labor law violations, with more than 600 unfair labor practice (ULP) charges still unresolved
Baristas’ movement has taken the world by storm. In November 2025, they launched a nationwide unfair labor practice strike—which became the longest work stoppage in Starbucks history—protesting the company’s labor violations and refusal to finalize a fair union contract. The movement has galvanized massive solidarity, drawing support from allies and elected officials across the country as workers continue their unified demand for respect and a fair union contract.
